Best AFL golfers Jaxon Prior and Oliver Hollands take on Jon Ralph in Code Sports Classic
It was a throwaway comment from Essendon's Jaxon Prior that perfectly captured the golfing form during the inaugural Code Sports Classic.
'I think you'd find there are a lot of people, especially other AFL players, that can do exactly what we're doing right now – which is hacking it around.'
The three-hole competition was held for the first time at Spring Valley Golf Club, starring Prior, Carlton youngster Ollie Hollands and Code Sports footy reporter Jon Ralph.
WATCH THE FULL CODE SPORTS CLASSIC VIDEO IN THE PLAYER ABOVE
AFL journalist Jon Ralph with Bomber Jaxon Prior and Carlton's Oliver Hollands at the Code Sports Classic. Picture: Jason Edwards
Hollands is one of the AFL's best golfers, slotting in at No.3 of Code Sports top 50 list, while Prior rounds out the top 10.
But while there were thrilling moments, like a converted eagle, that showed signs of a future golfing career, there were also others, like one player chipping the ball directly into his cart, that proved footy was the right choice.
'We didn't pay, but we're getting our money's worth for the amount of shots we're having,' the player said after hitting his cart.
'Can I go home?'
But not long after conceding the par 4 hole to Ralph, the footy star teed off on the par 5 with a stunning 270m drive.
REVEALED: SEE THE TOP 50 AFL GOLFERS BY HANDICAP HERE
He then followed it up with a gorgeous iron shot that landed the ball within 10 feet, and then he promptly nailed the putt to secure an eagle and send the competition to overtime.
Hollands and Prior are used to playing in front of 80,000 screaming fans at the MCG, but it was a different nerves-inducing experience at the course.
It was watching a six-foot putt by Ralph on the sudden-death hole, which would have seen him win the inaugural Code Sports Classic.
Originally published as Watch as the AFL's best golfers go head-to-head in the inaugural Code Sports Classic

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Perth Now
19 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Reality check for big-noting NRL
A national survey has delivered NRL officials a reality in check in their rivalry with the AFL and posed questions about the Perth venture. More than 1000 people across all states and territories were asked which code they regarded as the 'national sport' and the AFL was the overwhelming winner. Nearly 46 per cent of respondents picked the AFL, which has teams in five states compared with the NRL's three, despite rugby league boasting an international presence and amid claims from ARL Commission boss Peter V'landys that his code had eclipsed their rivals as talks ramp up for a new TV deal Nationally, cricket came in as the second pick (20.5 per cent) with rugby league (14 per cent) third. Only in one state, NSW, was rugby league chosen ahead of other sports. Rugby League only won the popularity contest in NSW. NRL Photos/Gregg Porteous Credit: Supplied Even in NSW, only 27 per cent picked rugby league as the national sport, marginally ahead of cricket (24 per cent) and AFL (21 per cent). The most respondents in the survey came from NSW. In Queensland, a state long thought to be a rugby league stronghold, AFL came out on top, with just less than 35 per cent of the vote, on the back of the growth of the Brisbane Lions, last year's premiers, and the emerging Gold Coast Suns. In the Sunshine State, which boasts four NRL teams and only two AFL teams, rugby league came in third, behind the AFL and cricket, with only 20 per cent of those surveyed choosing it as the national sport. Worryingly, ahead of the NRL's push into Perth in 2028, less than 5 per cent of West Australian respondents chose rugby league as the national sport compared with 69 per cent choosing AFL. The results of the 'sports perception' survey, conducted by Net World Sports, come after V'Landys said the NRL had 'overtaken' their AFL rivals. 'They always looked down at us as the poor cousin, but we've overtaken them in audience. They thought we were inferior, but we're not,' he said. That's despite the AFL smashing the seven million mark for match attendance in 2025, with crowd averages of 37,000 spectators per game compared with the NRL's 20,000.


The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Hardwick's approach to 'two-game season' to define Suns
Damien Hardwick is treating the next week as a "two-game season" as Gold Coast attempt to scratch a 15-year AFL itch. The Suns (14-7) can lock up the club's first top-eight berth with a win against Port Adelaide in coach Ken Hinkley's final game in charge on Friday. A clash with Essendon, postponed due to a cyclone before round one, follows on Wednesday. Win both and the Suns could finish in the top four. Gold Coast have never finished higher than 12th since their 2011 AFL admission. Hardwick, lured back to coaching from a brief spell after steering Richmond to three flags, has been stressing to his players the importance of not looking too far ahead during the club's most successful campaign. A loss to GWS last weekend knocked the Suns back to ninth, and on Wednesday Hardwick took a slight departure from the script. "It's a two-game season for us," he said. "We're obviously out of the eight at the moment, looking to win both games. We know the situation we're in ... really important this week." Hinkley will finish his 13-season tenure at the Power, while three-time All Australian Travis Boak will also call time on his 19-year career. Hardwick has urged his men to "lean into it" at an Adelaide Oval venue where they are winless in 12 visits and that is sure to be pulsating. "Enormous occasion; there's going to be a lot of emotion ... a high-octane game," Hardwick said. "Ken's an incredible coach and he's a guy that I hugely admire, the way he's gone about it. "It's a shame that he hasn't quite got the the plaudits, I think, that he deserves. "Every time you play Port Adelaide, you know you're up for a hell of a fight, so I think he's done an incredible job." Suns midfielder Alex Davies had his one-game suspension downgraded to a fine, but Port star Ollie Wines wasn't as fortunate and will miss the clash. Hardwick said both Bailey Humphrey (knee) and Will Graham (hamstring) were close to returns, but would not be rushed back. But Daniel Rioli (leg) could be a vital inclusion this week, while foundation player David Swallow (knee), injured playing in the VFL a fortnight ago, is also training this week in a push to feature. The coach thought their lacklustre loss to the Giants on Saturday was a blip. "Our intensity was just well down and well off," Hardwick said. "When we showed the guys the vision (of their best football), it looked like we were playing it in fast-forward compared to what we did last week." Damien Hardwick is treating the next week as a "two-game season" as Gold Coast attempt to scratch a 15-year AFL itch. The Suns (14-7) can lock up the club's first top-eight berth with a win against Port Adelaide in coach Ken Hinkley's final game in charge on Friday. A clash with Essendon, postponed due to a cyclone before round one, follows on Wednesday. Win both and the Suns could finish in the top four. Gold Coast have never finished higher than 12th since their 2011 AFL admission. Hardwick, lured back to coaching from a brief spell after steering Richmond to three flags, has been stressing to his players the importance of not looking too far ahead during the club's most successful campaign. A loss to GWS last weekend knocked the Suns back to ninth, and on Wednesday Hardwick took a slight departure from the script. "It's a two-game season for us," he said. "We're obviously out of the eight at the moment, looking to win both games. We know the situation we're in ... really important this week." Hinkley will finish his 13-season tenure at the Power, while three-time All Australian Travis Boak will also call time on his 19-year career. Hardwick has urged his men to "lean into it" at an Adelaide Oval venue where they are winless in 12 visits and that is sure to be pulsating. "Enormous occasion; there's going to be a lot of emotion ... a high-octane game," Hardwick said. "Ken's an incredible coach and he's a guy that I hugely admire, the way he's gone about it. "It's a shame that he hasn't quite got the the plaudits, I think, that he deserves. "Every time you play Port Adelaide, you know you're up for a hell of a fight, so I think he's done an incredible job." Suns midfielder Alex Davies had his one-game suspension downgraded to a fine, but Port star Ollie Wines wasn't as fortunate and will miss the clash. Hardwick said both Bailey Humphrey (knee) and Will Graham (hamstring) were close to returns, but would not be rushed back. But Daniel Rioli (leg) could be a vital inclusion this week, while foundation player David Swallow (knee), injured playing in the VFL a fortnight ago, is also training this week in a push to feature. The coach thought their lacklustre loss to the Giants on Saturday was a blip. "Our intensity was just well down and well off," Hardwick said. "When we showed the guys the vision (of their best football), it looked like we were playing it in fast-forward compared to what we did last week." Damien Hardwick is treating the next week as a "two-game season" as Gold Coast attempt to scratch a 15-year AFL itch. The Suns (14-7) can lock up the club's first top-eight berth with a win against Port Adelaide in coach Ken Hinkley's final game in charge on Friday. A clash with Essendon, postponed due to a cyclone before round one, follows on Wednesday. Win both and the Suns could finish in the top four. Gold Coast have never finished higher than 12th since their 2011 AFL admission. Hardwick, lured back to coaching from a brief spell after steering Richmond to three flags, has been stressing to his players the importance of not looking too far ahead during the club's most successful campaign. A loss to GWS last weekend knocked the Suns back to ninth, and on Wednesday Hardwick took a slight departure from the script. "It's a two-game season for us," he said. "We're obviously out of the eight at the moment, looking to win both games. We know the situation we're in ... really important this week." Hinkley will finish his 13-season tenure at the Power, while three-time All Australian Travis Boak will also call time on his 19-year career. Hardwick has urged his men to "lean into it" at an Adelaide Oval venue where they are winless in 12 visits and that is sure to be pulsating. "Enormous occasion; there's going to be a lot of emotion ... a high-octane game," Hardwick said. "Ken's an incredible coach and he's a guy that I hugely admire, the way he's gone about it. "It's a shame that he hasn't quite got the the plaudits, I think, that he deserves. "Every time you play Port Adelaide, you know you're up for a hell of a fight, so I think he's done an incredible job." Suns midfielder Alex Davies had his one-game suspension downgraded to a fine, but Port star Ollie Wines wasn't as fortunate and will miss the clash. Hardwick said both Bailey Humphrey (knee) and Will Graham (hamstring) were close to returns, but would not be rushed back. But Daniel Rioli (leg) could be a vital inclusion this week, while foundation player David Swallow (knee), injured playing in the VFL a fortnight ago, is also training this week in a push to feature. The coach thought their lacklustre loss to the Giants on Saturday was a blip. "Our intensity was just well down and well off," Hardwick said. "When we showed the guys the vision (of their best football), it looked like we were playing it in fast-forward compared to what we did last week."


The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Magpies make Hill concession, Howe concussion call
Jeremy Howe will return for Collingwood's high-stakes clash with Melbourne, but coach Craig McRae concedes time is running out for Bobby Hill to feature in his side's AFL premiership push. Hill, the 2023 Norm Smith Medal winner, has made just one senior appearance in the past two months as he deals with personal issues. The 25-year-old has been absent from training this week and won't play against the Demons at the MCG on Friday night, when the Magpies can lock in a top-four berth. On Wednesday, McRae said he had dinner with Hill the previous night as he keeps tabs on the small forward's welfare. Hill asked his coach to leave the door ajar for a possible return to action in September, but appears an unlikely finals participant. "There's high performance and there's love and care, and I've just sort of left the high performance for now and I'm just making sure the young lad's OK," McRae said. "Time's running out in the season and maybe the high performance might be a bit far at the moment, but we'll just take that off the table for now. "Hopefully he can get back in the club and be happy, and then we'll see where we go from there." McRae specifically asked Hill how he should answer inevitable questions about whether he will play again at AFL level this season. "He goes, 'Please just leave a little bit of hope there for me'," McRae said. "But he's well aware that time's running out for getting enough load and then to be available. "I stepped straight back into love and care and said, 'Nah, let's just get him right day by day'." Howe has been given the green light to return from concussion, in a significant boost to Collingwood's defensive stocks. The 35-year-old was knocked out in a sickening collision with Hawthorn's Jai Newcombe in round 22 and is back after missing last week's three-point loss to ladder leaders Adelaide. "Howey will come back and his experience is important to us. I think he'll play our system really well," McRae said. Collingwood's forward-line connection wasn't up to scratch against the Crows, when the Magpies dominated the inside-50 tally (71-37) but couldn't make it count. McRae will consider recalling ruck-forward Mason Cox, with Daniel McStay potentially making way after some quiet performances. "We're working hard with Dan to get him moving and be part of our best team," McRae said. "There's a lot of work behind the scenes to work on his craft, jump at the ball well and fit into our patterns." Jeremy Howe will return for Collingwood's high-stakes clash with Melbourne, but coach Craig McRae concedes time is running out for Bobby Hill to feature in his side's AFL premiership push. Hill, the 2023 Norm Smith Medal winner, has made just one senior appearance in the past two months as he deals with personal issues. The 25-year-old has been absent from training this week and won't play against the Demons at the MCG on Friday night, when the Magpies can lock in a top-four berth. On Wednesday, McRae said he had dinner with Hill the previous night as he keeps tabs on the small forward's welfare. Hill asked his coach to leave the door ajar for a possible return to action in September, but appears an unlikely finals participant. "There's high performance and there's love and care, and I've just sort of left the high performance for now and I'm just making sure the young lad's OK," McRae said. "Time's running out in the season and maybe the high performance might be a bit far at the moment, but we'll just take that off the table for now. "Hopefully he can get back in the club and be happy, and then we'll see where we go from there." McRae specifically asked Hill how he should answer inevitable questions about whether he will play again at AFL level this season. "He goes, 'Please just leave a little bit of hope there for me'," McRae said. "But he's well aware that time's running out for getting enough load and then to be available. "I stepped straight back into love and care and said, 'Nah, let's just get him right day by day'." Howe has been given the green light to return from concussion, in a significant boost to Collingwood's defensive stocks. The 35-year-old was knocked out in a sickening collision with Hawthorn's Jai Newcombe in round 22 and is back after missing last week's three-point loss to ladder leaders Adelaide. "Howey will come back and his experience is important to us. I think he'll play our system really well," McRae said. Collingwood's forward-line connection wasn't up to scratch against the Crows, when the Magpies dominated the inside-50 tally (71-37) but couldn't make it count. McRae will consider recalling ruck-forward Mason Cox, with Daniel McStay potentially making way after some quiet performances. "We're working hard with Dan to get him moving and be part of our best team," McRae said. "There's a lot of work behind the scenes to work on his craft, jump at the ball well and fit into our patterns." Jeremy Howe will return for Collingwood's high-stakes clash with Melbourne, but coach Craig McRae concedes time is running out for Bobby Hill to feature in his side's AFL premiership push. Hill, the 2023 Norm Smith Medal winner, has made just one senior appearance in the past two months as he deals with personal issues. The 25-year-old has been absent from training this week and won't play against the Demons at the MCG on Friday night, when the Magpies can lock in a top-four berth. On Wednesday, McRae said he had dinner with Hill the previous night as he keeps tabs on the small forward's welfare. Hill asked his coach to leave the door ajar for a possible return to action in September, but appears an unlikely finals participant. "There's high performance and there's love and care, and I've just sort of left the high performance for now and I'm just making sure the young lad's OK," McRae said. "Time's running out in the season and maybe the high performance might be a bit far at the moment, but we'll just take that off the table for now. "Hopefully he can get back in the club and be happy, and then we'll see where we go from there." McRae specifically asked Hill how he should answer inevitable questions about whether he will play again at AFL level this season. "He goes, 'Please just leave a little bit of hope there for me'," McRae said. "But he's well aware that time's running out for getting enough load and then to be available. "I stepped straight back into love and care and said, 'Nah, let's just get him right day by day'." Howe has been given the green light to return from concussion, in a significant boost to Collingwood's defensive stocks. The 35-year-old was knocked out in a sickening collision with Hawthorn's Jai Newcombe in round 22 and is back after missing last week's three-point loss to ladder leaders Adelaide. "Howey will come back and his experience is important to us. I think he'll play our system really well," McRae said. Collingwood's forward-line connection wasn't up to scratch against the Crows, when the Magpies dominated the inside-50 tally (71-37) but couldn't make it count. McRae will consider recalling ruck-forward Mason Cox, with Daniel McStay potentially making way after some quiet performances. "We're working hard with Dan to get him moving and be part of our best team," McRae said. "There's a lot of work behind the scenes to work on his craft, jump at the ball well and fit into our patterns."